08/12/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 8 December, the European Commission launched an online observatory on deforestation and forest degradation worldwide, which will facilitate access to information on supply chains for public bodies, consumers and businesses. This tool will help implement the EU regulation aimed at reducing the EU’s contribution to global deforestation (see EUROPE 13212/30, 13183/17). It includes maps and data on changes in the world’s forest area and associated factors (deforestation, logging, forest fires, extreme events, insect defoliation), as well as an overview of the distribution of tree species, statistics on trade flows, and data on quantities produced and areas harvested by producer country. Further information: https://aeur.eu/f/a1n (AN)